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Gordon Pinsent

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Gordon Pinsent
CC FRSC
Pinsent in 2008
Born
Gordon Edward Pinsent

(1930-07-12)July 12, 1930
Grand Falls, Newfoundland
DiedFebruary 25, 2023(2023-02-25) (aged 92)
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Occupations
  • Actor
  • writer
  • director
  • singer
Years active1957–2021
Spouse
​
​
(m. 1962; died 2007)​
Children4, including Leah

Gordon Edward Pinsent CC FRSC (July 12, 1930 – February 25, 2023) was a Canadian actor, writer, director, and singer. He was known for his roles in numerous productions, including Away from Her, The Rowdyman, John and the Missus, A Gift to Last, Due South, The Red Green Show, and Quentin Durgens, M.P.[1][2] He was the voice of King Babar in the Babar the Elephant television and film productions from 1989 to 2015.

Early life

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Pinsent, the youngest of six children, was born in Grand Falls, Newfoundland (present-day Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada).[3] His mother, Florence "Flossie" (née Cooper), was originally from Clifton, Newfoundland and his father, Stephen Arthur Pinsent, was a papermill worker and cobbler originally from Dildo, Newfoundland.[4] His mother was "quiet spoken" and a religious Anglican; the family was descended from immigrants from Kent and Devon in England.[5] He was a self-described "awkward child" who suffered from rickets.[1]

Pinsent began acting on stage in the 1940s at the age of 17. He soon took on roles in radio drama on the CBC, and later moved into television and film as well. In the early 1950s, he took a break from acting and joined the Canadian Army, serving for approximately four years as a private in the Royal Canadian Regiment.[6]

Career

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Pinsent's professional acting career began in 1957 at Winnipeg's Theatre 77 (later known as the Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre) under the direction of John Hirsch. In the years that followed, he performed in many theatrical productions in Winnipeg, Toronto and at the Stratford Festival.[7]

In the early 1960s, he appeared in Scarlett Hill and The Forest Rangers. He later became a staple of Canadian television with roles including the series Quentin Durgens, M.P., A Gift to Last (which he created), The Red Green Show, Due South, Wind at My Back, and Power Play.[1]

Pinsent's film roles include The Rowdyman, Who Has Seen the Wind, John and the Missus, The Shipping News and Away from Her. He wrote the screenplays for The Rowdyman and John and the Missus. Perhaps his best known early film role was that of the president of the United States in the 1970 science fiction cult classic Colossus: The Forbin Project.[8][9] His other plays include Easy Down Easy (1987) and Brass Rubbings (1989).[10]

One of Pinsent's largest roles was playing the character of Hap Shaughnessy on The Red Green Show from 1991 to 2006. Hap was notorious for telling largely exaggerated stories about his past. He was frequently called out on his fabrications by his friend Red Green (played by Canadian comedian and show co-creator Steve Smith) or others.

His first memoir, By the Way, was published in 1992 by Stoddart Publishing. His second, Next (with George Anthony), was published in 2012 by McClelland and Stewart.[11]

On March 8, 2007, it was publicly announced in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, that Pinsent had accepted the appointment of honorary chairman of the "Building for the Future"[12] fundraising campaign for The Royal Canadian Regiment Museum.[13]

During the 2008, 2010, and 2011 summer periods of CBC Radio One, Pinsent presented a radio documentary series called The Late Show featuring extended obituaries of notable Canadians whom the producers believed deserved attention.[14]

Pinsent appeared in one of Canadian director Stephen Dunn's early short films titled Life Doesn't Frighten Me, which won various awards, including the CBC Short Film Face-Off, with a cash prize of C$30,000.[15] The film also won awards at the Toronto Student Film Festival and the Tribeca Film Festival in 2013.[16]

He had a guest starring role as Maurice Becker on the February 3, 2010, episode of Canadian television series Republic of Doyle. He was also a featured guest reader on Bookaboo.[17]

He attained notoriety when a comedic segment of him reading dramatically from Justin Bieber's autobiography on This Hour Has 22 Minutes went viral on October 20, 2010.[18]

Personal life and death

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Pinsent married actress Charmion King in 1962. They remained together until her death in 2007. Their daughter, Leah Pinsent, is also an actress.[19] Pinsent also has two children, Barry and Beverley, from a previous marriage.[20]

On February 25, 2023, Pinsent died at a hospital in Toronto at age 92, from complications of a cerebral hemorrhage.[3][21][2]

Awards

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In 1979 he was made an officer of the Order of Canada and was promoted to Companion in 1998. In 2006, he was made a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada.[22] In 2007, it was announced that Pinsent would receive a star on Canada's Walk of Fame.[23][24]

In 1997, he won the Earle Grey Award for lifetime achievement in television.[25]

Pinsent received an LL.D from the University of Prince Edward Island in 1975, and honorary doctorates from Queen's University, Memorial University of Newfoundland, Lakehead University (2008) and the University of Windsor (2012).[26]

Pinsent received a Governor General's Performing Arts Award in 2004, Canada's highest honour in the performing arts.[27]

It was on July 12, 2005, in his hometown of Grand Falls-Windsor, and in honour of his 75th birthday, that the Arts & Culture Centre was renamed The Gordon Pinsent Centre for the Arts.[28]

On September 25, 2008, at a "Newfoundland- and Labrador-Inspired Evening" at The Windsor Arms Hotel in Toronto, the Company Theatre presented Pinsent with the inaugural Gordon Pinsent Award of Excellence.[29]

Pinsent received the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2012.[30]

Pinsent received acting and writing awards, which included five Gemini Awards, three Genie Awards, two ACTRA Awards, and a Dora Award.[26]

Filmography

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Movies

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Television series

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Television specials and movies

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Shorts

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Discography

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Discography of Pinsent:

  • 2002: At the Rim of the Carol-Singing Sea (with The Newfoundland Symphony Youth Choir)[40]
  • 2010: Down and Out in Upalong (with Travis Good and Greg Keelor)[41]

References

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  1. ^ a b c Ouzounian, Richard (December 22, 2012). "Gordon Pinsent: a Canadian legend looks back at his life". Toronto Star. TorStar. p. E3. Archived from the original on December 8, 2015. Retrieved February 26, 2023.
  2. ^ a b Austen, Ian (March 4, 2023). "Gordon Pinsent, Actor Known for Playing Twinkle-Eyed Rogues, Dies at 92". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved July 17, 2023.
  3. ^ a b Austen, Ian (March 4, 2023). "Gordon Pinsent, Actor Known for Playing Twinkle-Eyed Rogues, Dies at 92". The New York Times. Retrieved March 4, 2023.
  4. ^ "Gordon Pinsent is Hap Shaughnessy". The Red Green Show. Archived from the original on September 29, 2007.
  5. ^ Gardner, David (April 8, 2004). "Gordon Pinsent". The Literary Encyclopedia. Archived from the original on October 28, 2021. Retrieved February 26, 2023.
  6. ^ "Pinsent, Gordon Edward | History of Canadian Broadcasting". Archived from the original on July 10, 2020. Retrieved July 10, 2020.
  7. ^ DeFelice, James. "Gordon Pinsent". Archived from the original on November 7, 2014. Retrieved April 5, 2015.
  8. ^ Canadian Press Staff (February 25, 2023). "Canadian actor Gordon Pinsent, who starred in Away From Her, has died at 92". Vancouver Sun. The Canadian Press. Retrieved February 26, 2023.
  9. ^ "Gordon Pinsent, Prolific Canadian Actor, Dead at 92 | Exclaim!". exclaim.ca. Archived from the original on February 27, 2023. Retrieved February 27, 2023.
  10. ^ "Iconic Newfoundland and Labrador actor Gordon Pinsent about to turn 90 | Saltwire". Archived from the original on July 10, 2020. Retrieved July 10, 2020.
  11. ^ Walz, Gene (October 27, 2012). "Oct 2012: Pinsent better at looking forward than back in second memoir". Winnipeg Free Press. Archived from the original on July 10, 2020. Retrieved July 10, 2020.
  12. ^ "The RCR Museum Capital Campaign". Archived from the original on March 5, 2007. Retrieved March 8, 2007.
  13. ^ "The RCR Museum". Archived from the original on March 4, 2007. Retrieved March 8, 2007.
  14. ^ "CBC.ca | The Late Show | About the Show". www.cbc.ca. Archived from the original on February 2, 2017. Retrieved January 30, 2017.
  15. ^ "St. John's director wins Short Film Face Off". CBC News. September 7, 2013. Archived from the original on February 22, 2016. Retrieved July 14, 2016.
  16. ^ "Stephen Dunn: Life Doesn't Frighten Me". Ion Magazine. July 17, 2013. Archived from the original on February 15, 2016. Retrieved July 14, 2016.
  17. ^ "About the show". CBC. Archived from the original on January 11, 2023. Retrieved February 26, 2023.
  18. ^ Vlessing, Etan (October 20, 2010). "Comedian's Mocking of Justin Bieber Book Goes Viral". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on February 27, 2023. Retrieved February 27, 2023.
  19. ^ Simonson, Robert (January 7, 2007). "Charmion King, Canadian Stage Actress, Dies at 81". Playbill. Archived from the original on February 27, 2023. Retrieved December 18, 2020.
  20. ^ Posner, Michael (December 6, 2012) [December 7, 2012]. "Gordon Pinsent reflects on a charmed life". The Globe and Mail. Toronto. p. L7. Archived from the original on April 12, 2015. Retrieved February 26, 2023.
  21. ^ CBC News Staff (February 25, 2023). "Gordon Pinsent, Canadian acting icon, dead at 92". CBC News. Toronto. Archived from the original on February 26, 2023. Retrieved February 26, 2023.
  22. ^ "Royal Society of Canada (RSC)" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on July 18, 2011.
  23. ^ Taylor, Kate (February 25, 2023). "Actor Gordon Pinsent, the friendly face and roguish heart of Canadian cinema, dead at 92". The Globe and Mail. Archived from the original on February 26, 2023. Retrieved February 26, 2023.
  24. ^ "Gordon Pinsent, Canadian acting icon, dead at 92". ca.news.yahoo.com. Archived from the original on February 26, 2023. Retrieved February 26, 2023.
  25. ^ "Earle Grey Award | The Canadian Encyclopedia". www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca. Archived from the original on November 17, 2019. Retrieved February 26, 2023.
  26. ^ a b "Gordon Pinsent". Canada's Walk of Fame. Archived from the original on October 7, 2022. Retrieved February 27, 2023.
  27. ^ "Governor General's Performing Arts Awards – Recipients". Governor General's Performing Arts Awards Foundation. Archived from the original on February 7, 2015. Retrieved December 6, 2012.
  28. ^ "Government renames the Grand Falls-Windsor Arts and Culture Centre in honour of Gordon Pinsent". www.releases.gov.nl.ca. Archived from the original on February 26, 2023. Retrieved February 26, 2023.
  29. ^ Bradshaw, James (September 16, 2008). "Lifetime achievement award for Pinsent". The Globe and Mail. Archived from the original on February 26, 2023. Retrieved February 26, 2023.
  30. ^ "Diamond Jubilee Gala toasts exceptional Canadians". CBC. June 18, 2012. Archived from the original on June 19, 2012. Retrieved June 19, 2012.
  31. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av aw ax ay az ba bb bc bd be bf bg bh bi bj bk bl bm bn bo bp bq br "Gordon Pinsent". TV Guide. Archived from the original on February 27, 2023. Retrieved February 27, 2023.
  32. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av aw ax ay az ba bb bc bd be bf bg bh bi bj bk bl bm bn bo bp "Canadian Film Encyclopedia – Gordon Pinsent". cfe.tiff.net. Retrieved February 28, 2023.
  33. ^ "Blackwood" – via www.rottentomatoes.com.
  34. ^ "Devil at Your Heels". TV Guide.
  35. ^ "At Home by Myself... With You". TV Guide.
  36. ^ a b c "Gordon Pinsent, Prolific Canadian Actor, Dead at 92 | Exclaim!". exclaim.ca.
  37. ^ "Gordon Pinsent: a Canadian legend looks back at his life". thestar.com. December 22, 2012.
  38. ^ "Rock Stars" – via www.imdb.com.
  39. ^ "Private Eyes" – via www.rottentomatoes.com.
  40. ^ "Gordon Pinsent". musicbrainz.org. Musicbrainz Foundation. Retrieved February 14, 2015.
  41. ^ "Remembering Legendary Canadian Actor Gordon Pinsent Who Died at 92". www.everythingzoomer.com. Archived from the original on February 27, 2023. Retrieved February 27, 2023.
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